usna seal officer

[AquaRain]

I don't really want to rain on anyone's parade here, but I will.

Every year like 20%+ of the incoming class is "diehard" about going SEALs or EOD. All of them talk will talk about how dedicated they are, and most think that they are, but only twenty-something will make it.

It's not just about crushing the PST. The guys who get SEALs are largely extremely smart (there's a couple exceptions) and do very well militarily as well. They all seek out things to challenge themselves (varsity sports is a big one) and excel at them while still managing to do well academically and in company. Doing well at the SEAL screener and on SEAL cruise seem to be the biggest factors, and I know plenty of guys who went into either of those events (especially cruise) only ever wanting SEALs and came out thinking something else, whether by their choice or being explicitly told they wouldn't get it.

By service selection, only 50-60 or so are seriously competing for those ~20-30 SEAL slots. But, guess what...those guys all have a decent shot. Only half will get it. Going to USNA isn't like applying for OCS where you can only apply for SEAL. You have to prepare for the very real possibility that you will not get it, and will serve in another capacity for five plus years with limited at best options for lat transfer.

The needs of the Navy always come before your preference and ability, and I know plenty of dudes riding ships right now (or, on occaision here in flight school) who wanted very badly to be somewhere else.

Again, not trying to be negative or turn people off. But you won't prove your dedication to getting what you want by seeing Navy SEAL movies, you prove it with four years of busting your ass and being an exceptional candidate. Even then there aren't any guarantees.

It's exactly as Hurricane12 said. To extend to that, just because you get a Service Selection as SEALs does not guarantee that you will make to earning your Trident. Not to discourage you or anything but the attrition rate at BUD/s is around 80% and after that is SQT which is not pretty. But if you can survive all of that plus 4 years at USNA, being a Group 1 major ( or 2 or 3, it may change when get to USNA; the most important thing is that you have good grades), pre-screeners, THE SCREENER, your cruise, interviewing with some very high ranking SEALs, do not get an Honor Offense (they will not let you Service Select SEALs, EOD, or Marine Corps if you in anyway commit an Honor Offense), and do not have an alcohol problem,you will more than likely have a good chance of becoming a United States Navy SEAL. This is not to discourage you at all. This is the truth.

 

[gavigane14]

Does anyone know if it is possible to be on 2 sports while at the Naval Academy. For example, I am interested in playing sprint football and trying out for the Special Operations Team. Is this possible? Also, is the pool at the Naval Academy open to midshipmen who wish to use it as a way to train for SEALs? Thank you.

 

[JShawshank]

What would happen if you weren't selected for SEALs? Can you apply for BUDs from the fleet if you are an officer after being selected for something else like surface warfare?

From the SEAL Capt. I spoke to, the recent breakdown of officers coming to BUD/s (~100 officers per year):
~28 from USNA
~28 from OCS
~15 from NROTC
~15-20 lateral transfers (90+% of which are USNA grads who didn't get selected at graduation)

Also, the vast majority of attrition from BUD/s is from the enlisted guys. USNA alums have a 80+% success rate (or 20% attrition rate) mainly attributed to the rigor of getting one of 28 in a class of ~1,200.

 

[AspiringSEAL]

From the SEAL Capt. I spoke to, the recent breakdown of officers coming to BUD/s (~100 officers per year):

~28 from USNA

~28 from OCS

~15 from NROTC

~15-20 lateral transfers (90+% of which are USNA grads who didn't get selected at graduation)



Also, the vast majority of attrition from BUD/s is from the enlisted guys. USNA alums have a 80+% success rate (or 20% attrition rate) mainly attributed to the rigor of getting one of 28 in a class of ~1,200.

Thank you! I knew the passing rate for the SEAL candidates from the academy was high, but what about NROTC? Also, do you know approximately how many men go out for a SEAL officer billet from NROTC a year?

 

[JShawshank]

Not sure how NROTC to SEAL screening is done or numbers that are 'in the running' each year. I did ask about the relatively low number from NROTC given the national pool of candidates and he indicated that the Marines tend to have a stronger presence on campuses and tend to give a lot of love to strong NROTC candidates who then select Marines vs SEALs.

In any case, the numbers indicate that USNA is the best platform to start from if you want to be a SEAL officer.

 

[SpikeGamer2018]

What would happen if you weren't selected for SEALs? Can you apply for BUDs from the fleet if you are an officer after being selected for something else like surface warfare?

Yes. An example of this would be lieutenant MICHAEL MCGREEVY (rip). He started out as a SWO, then went to BUDs and graduated as an honor man (class 230).

 

[d22]

"Gentleman, it's going to be a long, cold, wet night."

No one has mentioned the mental fortitude it takes to get through Hellweek. Being physically fit is only one aspect. Constantly being cold, hungry, and sleep deprived is a whole different animal.

Good luck to all you future sugar cookies.